The Second Ostend Raid was the latter of two failed attempts by the Royal Navy to block the channels accessing the Belgian port of Ostend in 1918. The strategic advantages conferred by the Belgian ports in the conflict were very important; a successful blockade of these bases would have forced German submarines to operate out of more distant ports, such as Wilhelmshaven, on the German coast. The ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge provided sea access via canals for the major inland port of Bruges, which was used as a base for small warships and submarines. The Ostend Raid was largely a failure as a result of heavy German resistance and British navigational difficulties in poor weather. In anticipation of a raid, the Germans had removed the navigation buoys and without them the British had difficulty finding the narrow channel into the harbour in poor weather. When they did discover the entrance, German resistance proved too strong for the operation to be completed as originally planned. British casualties in the raid were heavy, compared to minimal German losses. Despite its failure, the raid was presented in Britain as a courageous and daring gamble which came very close to success. (more...)

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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

324:

Constantine the Great decisively defeated Licinius in the Battle of Chrysopolis, establishing Constantine's sole control over the Roman Empire, and ultimately leading to the conversion of the whole empire to Christianity. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chrysopolis

1879:

The Blackpool Illuminations in the English seaside town of Blackpool, billed as "the greatest free light show on earth", were switched on for the first time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackpool_Illuminations

1939:

The Nazi propaganda radio programme Germany Calling began broadcasting to audiences in England and the United States. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Haw-Haw

1971:

Hurricane Fifi struck Honduras, destroying 182 towns and villages in the first 24 hours, and ultimately causing over 8,000 deaths. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Fifi

2001:

Five letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to various media outlets in the United States. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_anthrax_attacks

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

piebald (adj): Spotted or blotched, especially in black and white http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/piebald

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

To contribute usefully to the advance of science, one must sometimes not disdain from undertaking simple verifications. --Léon Foucault http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/L%C3%A9on_Foucault